The Rupununi Uprising started on January 2, 1969, less than 3 years after Guyana was granted Independence from Britain, in the Rupununi District of Guyana. This armed rebellion was primarily led by ranch owners who feared losing land rights under the new government of Prime Minister Forbes Burnham. The uprising involved attacks on government facilities and was reportedly supported by Venezuela, which provided training and equipment to the rebels. The Guyana Defence Force quickly responded, suppressing the revolt within a few days.
During the Rupununi Uprising, at least seven people were killed, including five police officers and two civilians. Some accounts suggest higher fatalities among Amerindian populations, with estimates of up to 70 deaths rumored, though these figures remain contested and unverified. The uprising began on January 2, 1969, and involved violent confrontations between insurgents and government forces.
The rebels in the Rupununi Uprising aimed to achieve secession from Guyana and establish an independent state, the “Republic of the Rupununi.” They were motivated by fears of losing land rights under the new government of Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, particularly due to proposed land reforms affecting ranchers and Amerindian territories. The uprising was also fueled by frustrations over perceived governmental neglect and desires for “racial independence” from central authority, as articulated by rebel leaders like Valerie Hart. Additionally, they sought support from Venezuela, hoping to align with its territorial claims.
Hart proposed that the Republic of the Rupununi would be an autonomous state under military protection from Venezuela. During and after the uprising, however, Venezuelan authorities back pedaled, saying that their hands were tied by the Geneva Agreement, and refused to lend the military support needed for a rebel victory.
The Burnham administration responded to the Rupununi Uprising by deploying the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and police to suppress the rebellion quickly. Prime Minister Forbes Burnham initially downplayed the situation but later acknowledged it as an armed rebellion, asserting it was planned by “hostile elements” both inside and outside Guyana. The government conducted a military operation to regain control, which involved retaking Lethem and securing other strategic locations. Allegations of violence against Amerindian residents during the quelling of the uprising were denied by the government. Following the uprising, many rebels fled to Venezuela, and several were charged with murder.
Have you lived through the Rupununi Uprising of 1969? If so, tell us your experiences in the comments.
